Loose-leaf book



1366- 30, 1930. LE R01 E. HUTCHINGS 1,736,617

LOOSE LEAF BOOK Filed June 28, 1926 I I ,v 15 I nvemor 1 lie Roi E. Hat's/drag Patented Dec. 30, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs LE ROI E. HUTCHINGS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, I BY MESNE ASSIGNMEIFTS.

TO REMINGTON RAND INC, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01 DELAWARE Loose-Lau- 3001:

Application and June 28,

This invention relates to books in which the leaves are removably sustained therein, and relates more particularly to books of the class described which are adapted to con- 5 tain leaves whose edges are in overlapping visible position.

In loose leaf books of "this nature, it is common to have leaves considerably narrower than the width of the book covers, so that m the leaves are mounted on a series of leaf posts with. their lower or upper edges in overlapping, visible position. It is often necessary to insert leaves into 'or remove leaves from the book, in which case it is necessary to shift some of the remaining leaves so that the overlapping spaces will all be equal.

Devices for accomplishing this result have been proposed which are expensive to manufacture and which do not permit great flexibility'in the insertion or removal of record sheets. Infcertain devices where the leaf posts are mounted on covers which are hingedly connected ,and which do not have interlocking leaf post ends, it is often difficult to move the record sheets from one half of the book to the other half without tearing the record sheets since a perfect alignment of the leaf posts with the holes in the record sheets is not obtained. 7

An object of this invention therefore is to provide a loose leaf book which has great flexibility as to the ability to shift a group of record sheets several spaces one .way or the other upon removal or insertion of other record sheets.

Another ob'ect of the invention is to provide loose lea books having a simple mechanism which can be made completely with dies so that the cost of manufacture is low.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf book in which the leaf posts are maintained in perfect alignment so that record sheets may be readily shifted from one side of the book to the other side; also to improve loose leaf books in other respects hereafter specified and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawin s forming a part of this specification, in which:

1928. Serial No.118,978.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved loose leafbook.

of the Fig. 2 is a'fra'gmentary plan view of the ilan view of one c Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through the book mechanism on line 6-6 of Fig. 2. g

F ig. is a longitudinal fragmentary sec-. tional view through the book mechanism on p line 7-7 of Fig.2.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8-'8 of Fig. 4. Referring .tothe drawings by numerals, 10 and 11 indicate the covers of.my loose leaf book, each of which i is connected by hinges 12 to a base member "13, which forms theback. of the book when same is closed. A pair of leaf post plates14:

and 15 are movably mounted on the base member 13 in a manner to be fully described. A series of leaf posts 16 are preferably formed integral with the plate 14 and a simv ilar series of leaf posts 17 are formed on the plate 15. The leaf osts 16 and 17 are arcu-. ate in shape, and t eir inner ends are provided with serrations or teeth 18, which are adapted to interlock and maintain the ends of leaf posts 16 and 17 in perfect registry when same are closedtogether as shown in Fig. 4. p

A plurality of separator leaves 19 are rovided with holes 20 so as to be support on the series of leaf posts 16 and 17. Between each pair of the separator leaves 19 is mounted a series of comparatively narrow record cards or leaves 21, each of which has a pair of lugs 22 formed on one edge and having holes 23 for the reception of leaf posts 16 and 17 Portions of cards between and beyond the ears 22 are removed so as to reduce the build-up when the cards or leaves are arranged in series. The leaves 21 are preferably arranged onthe leaf posts so that they are superimposed in overlapping position with their edges extending one beyond the other in index position so thatindicia 24 on the bottom edges of leaves 21 will be visible at all times. Also, index tabs 25 may be attached to the separator leaves 19 in staggered relation so that the roups of record sheets 21 may be easily distinguished one from the other.

In a continually changing record, it is freuently desirable to take out or put in record s eets 21, in which case it is necessary to move the leaves above those shifted one way or the other so .that the overlapping s aces of the bottom of the'sheets will always e the same. For this purpose I so construct my book mechanism that the leaf post plates 14 and 15 maybe relatively reciprocated in a longitudinal direction and may be also shifted transversely so as to cause the leaf posts 16 and 17 to move into and out of interlocked 0- sition. Font-his purpose a pair of parallel slide plates 26 and 27 are slidably positioned on the base member 13, the ends of said plates being slidably retained under flanges 28 and 29 folded over andv spaced apart from the ends of the base member 13. Thus the plates 26 and 27 are capable of transverse movement toward or away from each other, but are prevented from any longitudinal movement. A pair of studs 30 is secured to each of the slide plates 26 and 27 in an suitable way, such as y riveting, said stu s extending u wardly through longitudinal slots 31 forme ineach of the plates 14 and 15 so that the plates 14 and 15 are constrained to transverse movement with the plates 26 and 27 and also may have longitudinal movement relative to the plates 26 and 27 and relative to each other.

he longitudinal movement of the plates 14 I V and 15 is limited by the ends of the slots 31,

'andis predetermined according to the maximum amount of shiftingwhich will be neces sary in transferring leaves 21 in the book. The upper ends of the studs 30 preferably have washers or enlarged heads 32 which are adapted to prevent the removal of plates 14 and 15 from said studs.

In order to accomplish the transverse movement of slide plates 26 'and 27 and to maintain said plates parallel at all times, an actuating bar 33 is mounted between the leaf 0st plates 14 and 15 and slide plates 26 an 27. Actuating bar 33 is provided with a pair of ears extending diagonally near each end, said ears having diagonal slots or cam surfaces 35 through which the studs 30 pass. An actuating handle 36 is formed at one end of the bar 33 so that said bar may be reciprocated longitudinally to cause the transverse movement of the leaf post lates 14 and 15 and slide lates 26 and 27, t us causing the ends of the eaf posts to go into or out of interlocked position for the removal or addition of record leaves 21. Locking lug 37 is pivotally connected at one end to the end of leaf post plate 14 and the other end of said lug 37 has a downward projection adapted to be inserted into a hole 38 formed in the end of the leaf post plate 15, said lug 37 being semi-flexible for this purpose. When in locked position as shown in Fi 4, leaf post plates 14 and 15 are prevente from transverse movement, and the ends of the leaf posts 18 are maintained in interlocked position so that record leaves 21 may be readily shifted from one half of the book to the other half. In order to make sure that the ends 18 of the leaf posts 16 and 17 move into exact registry position, a plurality of teeth 39 are formed on the inner edge of each of the plates 14 and 15. Theseteeth preferably have serrations having a pitch half as great as that of the leaf posts so that the leaf posts of the plate 14 may be positioned midway between the leaf posts 17 on the late 15, thus making it possible to use only alf the overlapping space on the record leaves 21 if so desired. In order to make sure that there is no possible vertical movement or play of the plates 14 and 15, when in locked position, pairs of spaced lugs 40 and 40 are formed on the inner edge of the plates 14 and 15 respectively, each pair being adapted to receive between them the inner edge of the opposite plate when the book is in locked osition.

he spacer washers 41 are provided etween the ears 34 and the leaf post plates 14 and 15 so as to give clearance for the lower lugs 40. The actuating bar 33 has the end portions extending between the flanges 28 and 29 at opposite ends of the base plate which retain said actuating bar a ainst lateral movement. This also prevents the slide plates 26 and 27 from lateral slidin movementexcept when operated by the re ative movement of the actuating bar 33 to engage or separate the leaf posts.

In operation an upward reciprocation of the actuating member 33 as seen in Fig; 2 causes the cam surfaces or slots 35 to move the studs 30 together, and these studs bring the leaf posts 16 and 17 into locked position with their teeth 18 in exact re istry as determined by teeth 39. The inwar movement of studs 30 causes a similar inward movement of the slide plates 26 and 27. A downward move- .ment of the actuating member 33 causes the leaf posts to open as shown in Fig. 2, in which position-each leaf post plate 14 or 15 may be shifted longitudinally so as to move one roup of the record leaves 21 one way or the ot er to insert or remove other record sheets. Thus as seen in Fig. 1, the book would be opened by first disengaging the end of lug 37 from hole 38, moving the actuating member 33 downwardly and then shifting one set of leaf osts so that the leaves on the left are move upwardly or'downwardly with respect to t e leaves on the right so as to make all of the overlapping spaces below the cards e ual.

I would state in conclusion that w ile the iilustrated examples constitute a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself precisely to these details as to use and construction, since. manifestlg the same can be considerably varied wit out de artmg from the spirit ofthe invention as de the appended claims.

I claim as myinvention: 1. In a loose leaf book, adapted to contam record leaves, a pair of seriesof'leaf posts, means for mounting and guiding said'series of posts for independent movements in a plane both transversely and longitudinally, the movements of said leaf posts being adapted to permit removal or addition of record leaves and the longitudinal shifting of groups of said leaves relative to other groups of leaves. I

2. In a loose leaf book adapted to contam record leaves, a pair of leaf-post support members, each havingxa series of registering leaf posts associated t erewith, means mounting said support members for relative, trans verse movements, cam means for shifting each of said members transversely relative to one another for disengaging re istermg leaf osts, and means mounting sai support members for relative longitudinal movement in disengaged relation to shift one group of record leaves relative to a second group of leaves.

3. In a loose leaf book adapted to contain record leaves, members slidably associated with said base member, means for moving said slide mem-' bers transversely of said base member, a pair of leaf post support members adapted to move longitudinally of said slide members and contrained to move transversely therewith, and leaf posts associated with said support members. 4. In a loose leaf book adapted to contain record leaves, a pair of substantially parallel slide members, means mounting said members for transverse movement, cam means for changing the distance between said slide members, a 'pair of leaf post support members adapted to move longitudinally of said slide members and constrained to move transversely therewith and leaf posts associated with said support members.

5. In a loose leaf book adapted to contain record leaves, a base member, a pair of slide members slidably associated with said base member, means for changing the distance between said slide members, a pair of leaf post support members adapted to move longitudinally of said slide members and constrained to move transversely therewith, leaf posts associated with said support members having interlocking ends when the distance between said support members is minimum, and means for locking the support members together when the ends of said leaf posts are in interlocked position.

6. In a loose leaf book adapted to contain -6 record leaves, a pair of series of leaf posts,

ned in a base member, a pair of slide means mountingfaid series of posts for relative movement 0th transversely and longitudinally, a plurality of series of record leaves, each narrower than the length of a series ofleaf posts, each of said leaves having a plurality of cars adjacent one edge thereof, the ears of said leaves having 'holes for engaging saidleaf posts so that the bottom edges of said leaves will be in overlapping visible position, and means for moving one series of leaf posts relative to the other series of leaf posts so that one series of record leaves is moved relative to the other series of record leaves. a i

7 In a loose leaf book adapted to contain record leaves, a base member, a pair of slide members slidably associated with said base member, an actuating member having oblique cam slots, studs passing through said slots and adapted to change the distance between said slide members, when said actuatin member is moved longitudinally, a series ofdeaf posts associated with each of said slide members, and means for permitting the relative movement of each series ofleaf posts longitiidinally of its respective slide member.

8. In a loose leaf book adapted to contain record leaves, a base member, a pair of leafpost support members associated with said ase member, means for changing the distance between said support members, a series of leaf posts associated with each of said support members, said series of leaf ports being adapted for engagement when said support members are in adjacent relation and teeth formed on'adjacent edges of said support members adapted for cooperation for aligning corresponding leaf posts in engaged relation. I

9. In a loose leaf book adapted to contain record leaves, a base member, a pair oflea post support members associated with said ase member, means for changing the distance between said support members, a series of leaf posts associated with each of said sup- 110 port members, said leaf posts being ada ted for engagement when'said support mem ers are in adjacent relation and means for securing said sup ort members in adjacent relation when sa-i leaf posts are engaged. .115

10. In a loose leaf book adapted to contain record leaves, a base member, a pair of leaf post support members associated with said base member, means for changing the distance between said support members, a series of 120 leaf-posts associated with each of said sup-f, port members, and supporting lugs on the inner edge of a support member adapted to embrace the other sup ort member to retain said support members in the same plane with .125 v the leaf posts in engaged relation.

11. In a loose leaf book adapted to contain record leaves, a base member, cover members hi'ngedly connected to opposite edges of said base member, a pair of series'of leaf posts,

and means mounting said series of leaf posts for movement in a horizontal plane both transversely and longitudinally relative to said base member the movements of said leaf osts being adapted to permit removal or addition of record leaves and the longitudinal shifting of groups of said leaves relative to other groups of leaves.

12. In a loose leaf book adapted to contain record leaves, a base member, a air of slide members, retaining flanges on sa1d base member adapted to slidably receive said slide members so that said slide members are adapted for transverse longitudinal movement relative'to said base member, a pair of leaf-post su port members adapted to move longitudina ly of said slide members and constrained to move transversely therewith, and leaf-posts associated with said support members.

13. In a loose leaf book adapted to contain record leaves, a base member, a pair of cover members hingedly connected to opposite edges of said base member, a air of slide members slidably associated wit said base member, an Fctuating member, cam means associated with said actuating member ada ted to change he distance between said slide members wh n said actuating member is moved longitudinally, a pair of leaf-post suprt members adapted to move longitudinalliv of said slide member and constrained to move transversely therewith, and leaf-posts associated with said support members.

14. In a loose leaf book adapted to contain record leaves, a base member, a pair of series of leaf-posts associated with said base member, a slide member supporting one of said series of leaf posts, an actuating member having a cam slot and adapted to move said slide member and the series of leaf-posts supported thereby transversely of the other series of leaf-posts, and means for permitting said slide member and supported eaf-posts to move longitudinally of said other series of leaf-posts without simultaneous transverse movement relative thereto.

15. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of series of leaf-posts, means mounting said leaf-posts for relative longitudinal and transverse movement in disengaged relation, and means for aligning o poslte leaf-posts in each series in engaged re ation.

16. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of series of leaf-posts, means mounting said leafosts for relative transverse movement into eafretaining and releasing positions, said means providing for relative longitudinal movement of said posts in leaf-releasing position,

and means for setting the posts of each series in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions in leaf-retaining position.

17. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of series of leaf-posts, means mounting said leaf-posts for relative transverse movement into leaf retainin and releasing positions, said means provi ing for relative longitudinal movement of said posts in leaf-releasin osition, and means governing the relation vt e posts of one series relative to the other in leaf-retaining relation.

18. A unit for a record system comprisin a base late, a bar adjacent each side of said base p ate, curved impaling prongs carried by said bars and having contacting ends and forming continuous rings from one bar to the other bar, means guiding said bars upon the base plate for lateral separation, one of said bars being adapted also for longitudinal shifting movement relative to the other bar and means for simultaneousl locking sai bars against separation an longitudinal shiftin".

19. X unit for a record system comprising a base plate, a pair of parallel bars in the same plane upon said base plate and each having a series of curved impaling prongs having contacting ends, parallel motion mechanism connectin said bars and said base plate, whereby said fiars may be se arated by a direct lateral movement, one c said bars being adapted forv also being longitudinally shifted, latching means for simultaneously locking said bars against separation or relative lateral motion, and means for preventing longitudinal shiftin of the longitudinalo5 ly guided bar when sai bars are moved towards each other and are unlocked.

LE ROI E. HUTGHINGS. 

